The body of a woman from Alberta, Minn., who had been missing since late December was found buried at her home Thursday, and the death has been ruled a homicide, authorities said.
Tamara Lee Mason, 49, was reported missing by relatives on Dec. 27. The Stevens County Sheriff's Office had no leads in the case until May, when information led them to believe that there was foul play involved. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) became involved in the case at that point.
On Wednesday, a BCA agent and a sheriff's investigator received information that led to the discovery of Mason's remains buried in her back yard. The Ramsey County medical examiner's office performed an autopsy and ruled the death a homicide on Friday.
A man and a male juvenile have been arrested in the case and are in the Stevens County jail. Charges are expected to be filed against the two, and possibly another man, on Monday, authorities said. The third suspect is in custody for an unrelated case.
Alberta is about 165 miles west of Minneapolis.
PAT PHEIFER
